WordValereferendum
a general vote on a single political question
In more detail
1. (noun) a vote by all the people in a country or region on a single important question
Examples
- 1. The government held a referendum to ask citizens whether they wanted to leave the European Union.
How to use referendum
A referendum is a direct democratic mechanism in which voters decide on a specific policy question or constitutional issue, rather than electing representatives to decide on their behalf. It is used for major decisions like independence, constitutional changes, or significant policy shifts. The term is neutral and formal, commonly found in political and legal contexts.
Common phrases
- hold a referendum
- conduct a referendum
- call a referendum
- referendum on
- referendum result
- pass a referendum
Synonyms
popular vote · public vote · plebiscite · ballot · direct vote
Opposites
representative vote · indirect election
Word family
referenda (plural) · referendums (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 'referendum' with 'election'; a referendum votes on a proposition or question, while an election votes for people to hold office.
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